Beethoven, Symphony No.3 in E flat major, op.55 "Eroica"

When, in the mid 1960s, Herbert von Karajan decided to record on film allnine Beethoven symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic, he began with the"Fifth" and asked the famous French movie director Henri-Georges Clouzot(Quai des Orfèvres) to direct. Recognizing in the music-loving director akindred soul and master of the symbolic image, Karajan found an inspiredpartner. In another of Karajan's first efforts, he asked six directors to"stage" one movement each of a Beethoven symphony. For a full week, thedirectors had the Berlin Philharmonic and Herbert von Karajan - all in fulldress - at their disposal, with all the 35mm film, cameras, lighting andtechnical assistance they needed. Karajan's most controversial productionwas Hugo Niebeling's highly personal interpretation of the "Pastorale",with its abstract shots of instruments, rapid rhythms, fade-ins andsymbolically arranged colors. Some critics raved: "This music film couldhave been made by Antonioni, Fellini or Godard." Karajan pursued his planwith tenacity, and the result is a milestone in the history of music onfilm: all nine Beethoven symphonies recorded at the peak of Karajan'spowers, unified by the performers but varied through the artistic visionof different directors.